Crow Wing River (Read 2859 times)
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Inukshuk
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Crow Wing River
Jun 12th, 2005 at 5:34am
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Anyone have any info on this river? 

I'll be in the area in a couple of weeks with a first time paddler.  I called the DNR for a Canoe Route map but would like to know if anyone has any other info that the could share about the Crow Wing.

Thanks,
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wally
Inukshuk
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Re: Crow Wing River
Reply #1 - Jun 12th, 2005 at 12:54pm
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I live on 6th CW lake S of Nevis.  Paddle the river from 5th CW lake dam to 4th CW quite often.  What section of the river are you going to be paddling?


In general the CW is:
--shallow, you may get out and walk in late summer (not a problem...never for very far)
--deeper in the spring
--has a few bass and small pike
--lots of suckers (I paddled over the MN state record Bowfin last summer in 2 ft of water...that baby had to be 36" long).  I almost dived in to hogwrastle her.
--great place for minnow collectors....shiners and redtails abound
--upper lakes are relativly developed, river is relativly undeveloped
--outer corners have a few good swimming holes
--very scenic on the river, very few visible homes on the upper stretch, although the majority of the banks are private property, then Potlatch land, then State land
--loaded with Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Bald Eagles, Whitetail Deer, Beaver, Fisher, Martin, painted and snapper turtles, etc....

--the river from it's conjunction with the Shell on downstream (I always thought the CW should end there...the Shell continue onward....you'll see what I mean if you paddle it)...has lots of designated river camp sites...some accessable by river only...check with the DNR.


--in general, it's alot like the upper Mississippi from Bemidji to Winnie...but less developed.  The upper lakes (CW #11 through #1) have some Walleye and loads of panfish, some of the best Crappie fishing around, big Sunnies....they have less pike then you'd think but the pike that are there are quite large.

My favorite upper stretches
..5th CW damn and anywhere on downstream, it's a nice full day trip to go to Huntersville from here
..put in on the Shell River just S of Hubbard on the bridge...paddle to the CW confluence and on to Huntersville, or farther (this is about a 4 hour paddle).
  
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Inukshuk
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Re: Crow Wing River
Reply #2 - Jun 12th, 2005 at 8:40pm
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Thanks Wally
We will be heading up from Perham and are looking for a nice day trip with a little fishing.  I have not got the map from the DNR yet but I'm assuming there are no rapids/portages from the 5th CW to Huntersville stretch ?
  
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wally
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Re: Crow Wing River
Reply #3 - Jun 13th, 2005 at 5:04am
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No, no rapids up here.

Portage is just around the damn out of 5th, and some portages near 3/2/1st CW lakes as you pull over roads or over the damn at 1st.  All portages will be just up and over.

Have a blast!  Post a few pics.
  
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